Primer of Polish Design in Berlin

Among the 100 designs, in addition to furniture, glass or porcelain – objects commonly associated with design – are less obvious things: typefaces, logos, children’s toys, a locomotive, a neon sign, a glider, a scooter, and even Poland’s tastiest treat Ptasie Mleczko and Ringo, a Polish sports game. On display are both contemporary designs and those that have managed to become classics. Uniques, verging on individual works of art; prototypes that never entered mass production; but also very popular items that Poles have been using on a daily basis for the last 100 years.

The exhibition also links the past with the present, showcasing the achievements of Polish design through the achievements of contemporary Polish printmaking. This is because we are presenting 100 works by Polish designers interpreted by twenty-five Polish illustrators – artists with very different achievements: experienced masters of the Polish school of illustration, illustrators of the young and middle generation winning awards around the world today, and quite young illustrators who have just graduated. Most of the invited illustrators illustrate children’s books while also working in the field of visual communication in the broadest sense. They present a variety of styles and techniques, all of them united by great talent.

The exhibition is not only about 100 objects and 100 of their visual interpretations, it is also about 100 stories: about designers, about needs, about dreams, about possibilities and about limitations. It tells not only about specific projects. It also shows what the design process is about, how ideas are created and, ultimately, what an amazing concept design is – the closest art to man, which we are all surrounded by, which we interact with every day and without which we could not do without, although we often do not realise this.

The presentation of the projects in chronological order shows that in the 100-year history of Polish design, certain materials, themes and forms have been recurring, taking on ever new faces. The exhibition is aimed at the general public, including the youngest generation. It was created to celebrate the centenary of Poland’s independence.

The illustrators taking part in the exhibition:

Jacek Ambrożewski, Edgar Bak, Maciek Blaźniak, Katarzyna Bogucka, Ada Buchholc, Iwona Chmielewska, Robert Czajka, Agata Dudek, Emilia Dziubak, Małgorzata Gurowska, Monika Hanulak, Marta Ignerska, Tymek Jezierski, Paweł Jońca, Agata Królak, Grażka Lange, Patryk Mogilnicki, Piotr Młodożeniec, Ania Niemierko, Ola Niepsuj, Marianna Oklejak, Paweł Pawlak, Dawid Ryski, Marianna Sztyma

The exhibition is accompanied by the book Elementarz Polskiego Designu, published by the Wytwórnia publishing house, and workshops for families and children. The book’s premiere and the first edition of the exhibition will take place during the Gdynia Design Days 2017 festival. The exhibition and the book are a continuation and development of Ewa Solarz’s project ‘Ilustrowany elementarz dizajnu, czyli 100 rzeczy narysowanych przez 25 ilustratorów’, prepared for the Łódź Design Festival in 2013.

organiser: Adam Mickiewicz Institute

co-organiser: Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola

arrangement: Studio Beton – Marta and Lech Rowińscy

texts about the objects: Agnieszka Kowalska, Ewa Solarz, Agata Szydłowska

Coordination: Dr Magdalena Bąk-Wołoszyn tel. 15 8448556 ext. 15

e-mail: mbakwoloszyn@muzeum.stalowawola.pl   

The exhibition has been presented so far:

30.06.2017-09.07.2017 Gdynia Design Days 2017

28.09 – 15.10.2017, Budapest City History Museum

The exhibition is organised by the Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola and the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, operating under the Culture.pl brand, as part of a programme promoting Polish design worldwide, and is part of the international cultural programme accompanying the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of Poland’s regaining independence – Priority 3 of the INDEPENDENCE Multiannual Programme.  

The aim of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, a state cultural institution operating under the Culture.pl brand, is to promote Poland and Polish culture abroad. By presenting high-quality initiatives and events in the fields of art, music and design, the Adam Mickiewicz Institute seeks to bring contemporary Polish culture closer to foreign audiences. 

From 2018 to 2021. The Adam Mickiewicz Institute will coordinate an international cultural programme accompanying the centenary of Poland’s regaining of independence as part of Priority 3 of the Multi-Annual Programme NIEPODLEGŁA. The programme will present the most important achievements of Polish culture and will consist of more than one hundred projects ranging from film productions to exhibitions and theatre performances.